Police Say Stepmother Scalded Tot

3-year-old Could Lose Three Toes

June 12, 1985|By Renee Krause, Staff Writer

HOLLYWOOD — A 3-year-old girl suffered second- and third-degree burns and could lose at least three toes because her stepmother submerged the child`s feet in scalding water to punish her, police said Tuesday.

The stepmother, Virginia Evelyn Daniels, 21, of 2201 Greene St., also is accused of beating Shercolla Daniels with an electric cord. Police said the beating left bruises all over the girl`s body.

Daniels was charged Tuesday with attempted murder and two counts of aggravated child abuse, police said. She was held in the Broward County Jail without bail.

Shercolla`s father, Glen, said a doctor told him Shercolla would not walk for at least six months.

According to police, Virginia Daniels came home from her job at a fast-food restaurant about 12:30 p.m. Monday and ``lost control`` when she found that her stepdaughter had soiled her pants.

After punishing the child, Daniels drove the child to Broward General Medical Center for treatment, police said.

Glen Daniels said his wife called him at work immediately after punishing the child and told him she had come home from work to find Shercolla standing in hot water in the bathtub, crying.

But Daniels said his daughter told him her stepmother had put her into the tub of hot water and held her there.

``My wife said she had only beaten her trying to discipline her, but the baby told everybody the same thing, and she wouldn`t lie,`` he said.

Daniels said his daughter is well-behaved, loves playing with dolls, coloring and watching cartoons.

``She likes going to the park and swinging,`` he said on his way to Broward General Medical Center with a new doll for his daughter.